Courses

Research Interest

Our research interest is in the field of pain, addiction and diabetes. In particular, we study the role of neuropeptides in pain modulation as well as in the rewarding and reinforcing actions of nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and other addictive drugs, and palatable foods. We are also interested in the role of these peptides in stress-mediated enhancement of drug and food reward as well as in drug- and stress-induced changes in mood and motivation.

Research Grant

HHSN275201500005C, “Development of Nociceptin Receptor Agonists or Alcohol Use Disorders”, Co-PI, NIH/NIAAA SBIR Phase II, Subcontract with Astraea Therapeutics, LLC., $276,713 for the period of 01/10/15 to 09/25/17, extramural.
The major goal of this project is to develop selective NOP receptor agonists and assess their efficacy in animal models of alcohol reward and reinforcement.

RG-1501-02891, “The μ-opioid/nociceptin-orphanin FQ receptor system in oligodendrocyte development and remyelination”, Co-I, National MS Society, Subcontract with the Virginia Commonwealth University, Approximately $20,000 annual cost for the period of 09/01/15 to 08/31/18, extramural.
The major goal of this project is to assess the opposite effects of the endogenous ligands of the mu and nociceptin receptors in myelination and remyelination.

TRDRP 320973, “The role of PACAP/PAC1 receptor system in nicotine addiction”, PI, TRDRP, first year direct cost $125,000 for the period of 07/01/15 to 06/30/16, extramural.
The goal of this project is to determine the role of endogenous PACAP and the effect of exogenous PACAP and related drugs on the motivational effects of nicotine.

“Nociceptin receptor (NOP) agonists for cocaine, and nicotine-alcohol use disorders”, PI, Contract with Astraea Therapeutics, LLC, $25,000, period from 09/15/14 to 09/30/15, extramural.
The goal of this contract is to assess the effects of NOP agonists on the rewarding action of cocaine as well as a combination of alcohol and nicotine in the mouse conditioned place preference model.

“Nociceptin receptor (NOP) agonists for alcohol use disorders”, PI, SBIR/NIH, subcontract with Astrea Therapeutics, LLC, $35,087 for an 8-months period from 06/01/13 to 01/31/14, extramural.
The goal of this subcontract is to assess the effects of a selective NOP agonist on alcohol reward.

“R24 DA017298: Drew MIDARP (Infrastructure in Drug Abuse research)”, NIH/NIDA, Project PI, direct cost averaged per year: 270,000 (Lutfy: $64,500) for the period of 09/01/04 to 08/31/13, extramural.
The major goal of the project is to increase research, training and educational capabilities related to substance abuse at Drew.

“R01 DA023281-01: Mixed NOP/mu Compounds and the involvement of their receptors in Analgesia”, NIH/NIDA, Co-PI, first year direct cost: $246,680 for the period of 07/01/2007 – 06/30/2010, extramural.
The goal of this grant proposal is to characterize the role of the ORL-1 receptor in the analgesic and rewarding actions of buprenorphine and a series of novel drugs with mixed action at the ORL-1 and mu opioid receptors.

“R01 DA16682-01: OFQ/N/ORL-1 system and cocaine sensitization”, NIH/NIDA, PI, first year direct cost: $125,000 per year for the period of 08/01/04 to 07/31/07, extramural.
The major goal of the project is to determine the site of action of OFQ/N and to evaluate whether repeated cocaine treatment would alter the level of endogenous OFQ/N or its receptor.

“Small Grant: Modulation of Opiates and Ethanol Action in the Mesolimbic System by the Neuropeptide PACAP”, UCSF Alcohol and Addiction Research Program, first year direct cost: $50,000 for the period of 01/01/02 to 01/12/02.
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of PACAP in morphine- and ethanol-induced alteration in dopamine levels, locomotor activity, drug-seeking behaviors, sensitization, and ethanol-induced sedation in mice and rats.

“R01 DA14659-01A1: Genes and Proteins Involved in the Switch Leading to Addiction”, NIH/NIDA, Co-PI, first year direct cost: $175,000 for the period of 07/01/2002 – 06/30/2003, extramural.
The objectives of the project are to characterize genes and proteins regulated by morphine in the brains and pituitaries of mice.

"R21DA016867-01-A1: Chronic Nicotine’s Activation of the HPA Axis", NIH/NIDA, Co-PI, first year cost: $100,000, for the period of 07/01/2003 to 06/30/05, extramural.
The major goals of this project are to examine the effect of chronic nicotine on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rats.

“K01 DA00411-03: Orphanin FQ and Cocaine Sensitization”, NIH/NIDA, PI, first year direct cost: $113,309 for the period of 07/01/1999 – 07/01/2002, extramural.
The major goal of this project is to determine the role of orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) and its receptor in motor stimulation and sensitization induced by single and repeated cocaine administration using behavioral and neurochemical approaches.

“NARSAD Young Investigator Award: Modulation of dopamine systems by OFQ/N”, National Alliance of Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, PI, first year direct cost: $30,000 for the period of 07/01/99 to 06/30/01, extramural.
The major goal of this project was to determine the effect of orphanin FQ/nociceptin on extracellular dopamine along the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.

Awards

Faculty Service Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2016)
Provost Scholar of the Year, Western University of Health Sciences (2015)
Teacher of the Year Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2014)
Faculty Service Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2014)
Teacher of the Year Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2013)
Faculty Service Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2012)
Faculty Service Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2010)
Faculty Excellence Performance Merit Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2006)
Graduate Student of the year, Henry Wood Elliott Memorial Fund Fellowship; Dept. of Pharmacology, UCI (95-96)

Organizations

Society for Neuroscience, Member (1989-present)
International Brain Research Organization, Member (1999-present))
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Member (2004-2007)
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member (2005-2010)
The New York Academy of Sciences, Member (2006-present
Research Society on Alcoholism, Member (20210-present)
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Member (2013-2015)
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member (2012-2015)
International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Member (2014-present)
Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD), Member (2016-present)
Afghan Health Initiative, Member (2015-present)

Marquez P, Hamid A, Lutfy K: The role of NOP receptors in psychomotor stimulation and locomotor sensitization induced by cocaine and amphetamine in mice. European Journal of Pharmacology 707: 41-45, 2013.

Marquez P, Borse J, Nguyen AT, Hamid A and Lutfy K: The role of the opioid receptor-like (ORL1) receptor in the motor stimulatory and rewarding actions of buprenorphine and morphine. Neuroscience, 2008, 26, 597-602.